Do you want to know how organic and transgenic fruits can affect your health? Here you will find everything you need to know about the benefits of organic fruits and how they can improve your health compared to transgenic fruits. Do not miss it!
Fruits are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet. They are rich in essential nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds that promote overall health. However, in recent years, there has been a growing debate about the effects of fruit production methods on nutritional quality and food safety. In particular, the cultivation of organic and transgenic fruits has generated conflicting opinions in society. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of these two practices and their impact on health.
Organic fruits: what are they and what are their benefits?
Organic fruits are grown using agricultural practices that avoid the use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the production of organic fruits is prohibited. In general, the goal of organic farming is to preserve biodiversity and promote ecosystem sustainability.
Studies suggest that organic fruits may be more nutritious than conventional ones. For example, a study conducted by the Research Institute for Organic Farming in Sweden found that organic apples contained 15% more antioxidants than conventional ones. Additionally, organic fruits may contain lower levels of pesticides, which have been linked to various negative health effects, including endocrine disruption, neurological problems, and cancer.
Transgenic fruits: what are they and what are their benefits?
GM fruits are grown by inserting genes from one species into another to achieve a specific trait, such as disease resistance or faster ripening. Genetic modification technology has been used in fruit production since the 1990s.
Proponents of genetically modified fruits argue that these fruits have several benefits. For example, GM fruits can be more resistant to disease, reducing the need for pesticides. In addition, genetic modification technology can improve the quality and flavor of fruits.
However, some studies suggest that GM fruits may have negative health effects. For example, a study published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences found that mice fed GM corn experienced liver and kidney damage.
Advantages and disadvantages of transgenic fruits
On the other hand, transgenic fruits are those that have been genetically modified in laboratories to improve certain characteristics such as resistance to diseases, size, flavor, among other aspects. Despite the fact that there are still no conclusive studies on its effects on health, there are different opinions about the pros and cons of its consumption.
Advantages of transgenic fruits
- Increased disease resistance: GM crops can be engineered to resist specific pests and diseases, which can decrease the use of pesticides and herbicides, thereby decreasing farmers’ and consumers’ exposure to these chemicals.
- Longer shelf life: GM fruits can have a longer shelf life compared to conventional fruits, which reduces food loss and decreases waste.
- Improved nutritional quality: Some GM crops are engineered to increase the amount of nutrients in the fruit, such as vitamins and minerals, which can be beneficial to health.
Disadvantages of transgenic fruits
- Unknown risks: The long-term effects of consuming genetically modified fruits are not yet fully known, and this may create uncertainty and concern for consumers.
- Monocultures: The creation of GM crops on a large scale can lead to monocultures, which can be detrimental to biodiversity and soil health.
- Impact on the environment: the use of pesticides and herbicides can generate negative effects on the environment, such as water pollution and a decrease in the population of pollinators such as bees.
Organic fruits vs. transgenic fruits
Although organic fruits and transgenic fruits are two different concepts, they are often mistakenly associated as the same thing. While organic fruits are those that are grown without chemical pesticides and herbicides, transgenic fruits have been genetically modified.
As for health, organic fruits are known to have less pesticide residue, which can decrease the risk of exposure to these chemicals. On the other hand, there is still not enough evidence to determine whether transgenic fruits are harmful to health or not, so the discussion about their consumption focuses more on ethical, environmental, and economic aspects.
In conclusion, the consumption of organic and transgenic fruits continues to be a controversial issue that generates divided opinions. Although organic fruits may have less pesticide and herbicide residue, they can also be more expensive and difficult to find. On the other hand, GM fruits may have advantages such as greater resistance to disease and longer shelf life, but there are still questions about their long-term effects on health and the environment.
External sources:
Here we provide you with the links to three scientific articles that talk about organic or transgenic fruits and their impact on health:
- An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research.
In this study, a review of the scientific literature on the safety of transgenic crops was made during the last 10 years, creating a classified and manageable list of scientific articles and analyzing the distribution and composition of the published literature. They tried to capture the scientific consensus that has matured since transgenic plants became widely cultivated around the world. Scientific research carried out to date has not detected significant dangers directly related to the use of transgenic crops; however, the debate is still intense.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24041244/
2. Genetically modified foods: A critical review of their promise and problems.
This article provides an up-to-date summary of the benefits and potential problems of genetically modified foods. They also present some recent technological developments in such foods and their impact on the field.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295?via%3Dihub
3. Organic food and health.
The objective of this work was to present the current state of knowledge on the influence of organic food consumption on human health. They concluded that regular and frequent consumption of organic products generally reduces the risk of overweight and obesity, for both women and men, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. in case of women. On top of that, consuming organic fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products, significantly reduces the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy and eczema in babies, respectively. The positive effect on selected health problems is likely to result from a reduced amount of pesticide residues and increased intake of secondary plant metabolites that characterize organic foods.